Our mission is to provide patients and their families with the highest possible quality of healthcare within an atmosphere of genuine caring. This includes recognition of the importance of quality customer service to patients, visitors and staff. Each nurse has the following responsibilities.
Responsibility: Works independently in a safe and appropriate manner.
Sensitivity: Displays sensitivity and empathy to the needs of patients, visitors and staff.
Timeliness: recognizes time as a most valuable resource and responds promptly to patients, visitors and staff.
Accuracy: Works carefully and precisely with attention to detail.
Coordination: Prioritizes delivery of care and utilizes resources to maximize efficiency.
Accountability: Meets requirements of position. Able to evaluate and implement changes to meet patient needs.
Summary of Major Function
Registered Nurses are responsible for the delivery of safe, timely and appropriate patient care through the use of nursing process. The Registered Nurse retains the responsibility for the direction and guidance of ancillary personnel activities within their designated office. The Registered Nurse provides individualized care, education, and support which addresses the immediate and anticipated needs of the patient and family across the care continuum. Review of individual job descriptions with employees is an on-going part of our annual performance evaluation program.
Patient Care:

• Access - The nursing process is utilized to provide comprehensive, age appropriate nursing assessment including biophysical, psychological, social, and educational needs. Assessment of patients leaning needs, abilities, preferences and readiness to learn with consideration to cultural and religious practices, emotional barriers and financial implications of care choices.
• Plan - Patient assessment and interview is utilized to formulate an individual care plan within the limits of New Hampshire Nurse Practice Act and Littleton Regional Hospital policies and procedures. Patient and family involvement in development of the plan of care and all care decisions will be a priority.
• Implement - Implementation of all clinical and technical aspects of individual patient care plan to include the use of proper techniques, infection control guidelines, established procedures and safety precautions to meet the individual needs and priorities of the patient. Supports and augments the medical regimen by implementation of physician orders. Provides accurate and timely documentation of nursing interventions, patient response, and nursing evaluation and further actions if required.
• Evaluate - Reviews and evaluates patient care plan through continuous patient assessment. The plan of care is coordinated in consultation with multidisciplinary team involvement and adjusted to provide seamless delivery of care across the patient care continuum. Ongoing evaluation of patient care will include continued patient/family involvement and adjustment to meet the evolving biophysical, psychological, social and educational needs.

PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

• Supports and contributes to the mission and vision of Littleton Regional Hospital with a continuous focus on excellence in customer service and patient care delivery.
• Establishes and maintains a professional relationship with patients, visitors, staff, physicians and the community.
• Assures confidentiality of patient information at all times.
• Assesses personal learning and professional growth needs and seeks educational opportunities to meet those needs.
• Performs other duties as needed within the scope of practice in support of departmental and institutional needs and requirements.
• Adheres to LRH, department and compliance policies, procedures, regulations and laws.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND WORK ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides support and functions as a pediatric clinical resource.
• Recognizes educational needs and facilitates professional growth.
• Communicates concerns regarding patient care issues and variances from expected job performance to RN Clinical Manager.
• Participates in orientation of new personnel and functions as a clinical resource for assigned unit.
• Participates in the continuous Quality Improvement of the unit and the Nursing Department through data collection/auditing, incident investigation, committee involvement, professional collaboration.
• Responsible in assisting with office management duties related to ordering of supplies and medications.
• Maintains immunization inventory from state and responsible for required record keeping related to immunization administration.
• Provides telephone triage and follows protocols/orders.
• Assists/chaperones the treatment of patients in accordance with policy, procedures and guidelines.

Physical Environment:

• Exposed to all patient elements including exposure to human waste. At times, long and irregular hours are necessary. Exposure to hazardous substances is, at times, unavoidable. Frequently, multiple tasks and patient needs must be addressed in a rapid fashion with prioritizing life-threatening situations and organization of the remainder of the needs.

Probability and Consequences of Errors:

• Errors in practice can result in negative patient outcome. Individual practice affects probability of error. Poor performance in meeting job description criteria will be addressed according to established progressive disciplinary policies and procedures of Littleton Regional Hospital and the New Hampshire Nurse Practice Act.

REPORTS TO:
Service Line Director of Primary Care
Qualifications:
Education:

• Must be currently licensed or eligible for licensure as a Registered Nurse in New Hampshire.
• Must be a graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
• BSN preferred

Experience:

• Must possess the ability to interact well with people and deal with stressful situations appropriately.
• Must possess excellent documentation skills.
• Must be flexible and able to work as a member of the team.
• Must have ability to understand medical records, provider's orders.
• Must have ability to communicate compassionately with patients, families, visitors and office staff.
• May require travel to satellite offices.

Physical Demands:
See physical demands worksheet
Work Environment:
Pleasant office surrounding. Occasionally subjected to stressful situations. May be exposed to communicable diseases and blood borne pathogens.